used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading And had they been a minute earlier, they would undoubtedly have succeeded in doing so.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading With fierce shouts they rushed at the gates and attacked them with hatchets.
attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/
past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
From this reading With fierce shouts they rushed at the gates and attacked them with hatchets.
Barton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And had they been a minute earlier, they would undoubtedly have succeeded in doing so.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
BoxersnounUS /ˈbɑːksərz/
underpants worn by men
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
captureverbUS /ˈkæptʃər/
succeed in representing or expressing something intangible
From this reading This capture, trivial though it was, filled the Boxers with enthusiasm.
Charlie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
Chinamen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading And had they been a minute earlier, they would undoubtedly have succeeded in doing so.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading And had they been a minute earlier, they would undoubtedly have succeeded in doing so.
enclosurenounUS /enˈkloʊʒər/
a structure consisting of an area that has been enclosed for some purpose
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
a feeling of excitement
From this reading This capture, trivial though it was, filled the Boxers with enthusiasm.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading With fierce shouts they rushed at the gates and attacked them with hatchets.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading This capture, trivial though it was, filled the Boxers with enthusiasm.
foremostadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmoʊst/
ranking above all others
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)
From this reading With fierce shouts they rushed at the gates and attacked them with hatchets.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
hatchetsnounUS /ˈhætʃəts/
plural of “hatchet” — weapon consisting of a fighting ax; used by North American Indians
From this reading With fierce shouts they rushed at the gates and attacked them with hatchets.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And had they been a minute earlier, they would undoubtedly have succeeded in doing so.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
past form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And had they been a minute earlier, they would undoubtedly have succeeded in doing so.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
and nothing more
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
go away from a place
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading And had they been a minute earlier, they would undoubtedly have succeeded in doing so.
an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
done under pressure
From this reading With fierce shouts they rushed at the gates and attacked them with hatchets.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
shoutsnounUS /ʃaʊts/
plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading With fierce shouts they rushed at the gates and attacked them with hatchets.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And had they been a minute earlier, they would undoubtedly have succeeded in doing so.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading And had they been a minute earlier, they would undoubtedly have succeeded in doing so.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This capture, trivial though it was, filled the Boxers with enthusiasm.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading This capture, trivial though it was, filled the Boxers with enthusiasm.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
trivialadjectiveUS /ˈtrɪviəl/
(informal) small and of little importance
From this reading This capture, trivial though it was, filled the Boxers with enthusiasm.
tuggingverbUS /ˈtʌɡɪŋ/
inflected form of “tug” — pull hard
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
undoubtedlyadverbUS /ənˈdaʊtɪdli/
without doubt; certainly
From this reading And had they been a minute earlier, they would undoubtedly have succeeded in doing so.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In fact, the foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands.
past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain that they had hoped to surprise them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This capture, trivial though it was, filled the Boxers with enthusiasm.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And had they been a minute earlier, they would undoubtedly have succeeded in doing so.
